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Trailer

A Brighter Summer Day

1991Movie3 h 57 minNR

CrimeDrama
90
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Metacritic918.8Rotten Tomatoes100%93%

A deeply moving, profoundly sad crime movie about growing up and history, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

A boy experiences first love, friendships and injustices growing up in 1960s Taiwan.

Feels like

  • Taiwanese Cinema
  • Coming-of-Age Tragedy
  • 1960s Period Drama
  • Youth Gangs
  • Slow Burn Epic
  • Character Study
  • Melancholic Atmosphere
  • Historical Realism
  • Social Observation
  • Masterpiece

Cast

24 of 31

Crew

Directed by
Edward Yang
Written by
Edward Yang, Yen Hung-ya, Mingtang Lai
Produced by
Yu Wei-Yen
Music by
Zhang Hongda

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 27, 1991 · 3 h 57 min · NR

Released
July 27, 1991
Runtime
3 h 57 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Drama, Romance
Original language
Chinese
Also spoken
English
Made in
Taiwan
Available in
11 countries
Keywords
based on true story

Tropes

Mirror Character, Slice of Life, Narrative Filigree +9

  • Mirror Character
  • Slice of Life
  • Narrative Filigree
  • Meaningful Echo
  • Yandere
  • Killed Mid-Sentence
  • Driven to Suicide
  • Nothing but Hits
  • Alliterative Name
  • Epic Movie
  • Love Hurts
  • Parents as People

12 of 37 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream A Brighter Summer Day?"

Questions about A Brighter Summer Day

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream A Brighter Summer Day?

YouTube TV

In the United States, A Brighter Summer Day streams on YouTube TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 2 other countries.

Is A Brighter Summer Day worth watching?

90
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90 (IMDb 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 91).

Is A Brighter Summer Day good for date night?

and 1 morePartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing SafeSolo Watch

It suits a quiet night in as a couple: romance is 6 of 10, but the viewing guide doesn't list it for date night.

Will I feel good after watching A Brighter Summer Day?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 9 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is A Brighter Summer Day in English?

ChineseEnglish

No, it was made in Chinese, with some English.

What tropes does A Brighter Summer Day use?

Mirror CharacterSlice of LifeNarrative FiligreeMeaningful EchoYandereKilled Mid-SentenceDriven to SuicideNothing but HitsAlliterative NameEpic MovieLove HurtsParents as Peopleand 25 more

TV Tropes lists 37 tropes for it, including Mirror Character, Slice of Life, and Narrative Filigree.